Bike advice: Claud Butler Covent Garden Bicycle

[gerbilforlife]

Hello!

I am thinking of purchasing a Bike and have found a second hand Claud Butler Covent Garden Bicyclewhich ill be viewing on the weekend.
I'll be using the bike for commuting to and from shops and parks nearby, and wondered if anyone has or had a bike like this and could make any comment on its performance. I cant find many reviews on it.

Thanks guys!

It's 17.3 kg. I hope you live somewhere very flat.

lljkk....thanks, it has its hills here and there, but mostly flat.... I havent ridden for years, so honestly not sure what to go for. I take it this is heavy for a bike...I maybe need to do some more research.

Maybe you can leave some collaterol with the seller & go try it on a nearby hill. Need to see how it feels for you to cycle on hills.

yeah, good thinking!

I have a Dawes Duchess which looks similar and weighs about 17kg. It is a nice bike if you haven't ridden for a while as you are riding quite upright and it's easy to balance. I ride it mostly on suburban roads and cycle routes, gravel towpaths and up small hills in parks. I do find it hard on hills but my lack of fitness doesn't help. I don't find it heavy to ride- I also have a much lighter hybrid from Ridgeback which I find less comfortable, probably due to the riding position.
I would echo what lljkk says and give it a test drive as the best way t find out is to give it a go. It'll also allow you to check if the
size is suitable.

Lighter is better, I’ve got a Ridgeback Avenada with a large basket (effectively an air brake) on the front. It’s quite heavy, partly because of the basket and basket frame thing (both amazon) and partly due to the frame itself which is technically ‘lightweight’ but doesn’t seem it. Generally you struggle to get true weight comparisons because there are so many variables like mudguards, baskets, rear carriers, replacement saddles etc.

I chose mine cos it looked nice (to me) and had 6 gears in a revo shift. I’ve been commuting daily for over a year and I’m unlikely to bother swapping it - it does everything I need it for very well.

I wanted a front basket as it’s safer as all your stuff is in front of you.

Before buying, I went to a bike shop and hefted a few around to get a feel for the weights. I didn’t test ride any as I hadn’t ridden in 20 years

Thanks very much Melfish. My mind is almost made up to try out a few other bikes too before I commit. I've also been advised that aluminium frames may be better than steel.
I will be carrying shopping on the bike too which will add weight to an already heavy ride.
Riding position and comfort is indeed what attracted me to it, aswell.

Cheers Adagio

I will have to check out your Ridgeback Avenada.

I saw the Claud Butler and it looks lovely to me, but it cant all be about the looks if i'm thinking practically....and like you say testing out a few is a good idea.
I have been advised Pinnacles bikes are good also.

I can see why you like the look of it (just googled).

The other thing I preferred on mine is the handlebars are sort of straight/like a mountain bike which I preferred to the more traditional ones that are at a bit of an angle for your hands.

Bad points on mine are - mudguards don’t colour match, large diameter frame (it’s aluminium I think, but a bit fat/chunky)

Yeah adagio,

It is appealing to the eye. I woke up this morning still thinking about it haha!

Ill definitely go and take a look at it. I went and tried a few bikes out at a shop earlier that were lighter by a few KG's but so expensive, for price of the one ive seen, it may be worth the risk of the weight......

Thanks again for the advice, and having a look.

and by the way adagio, your bike looks great too ! (googled) he he

well, I viewed it, I tested it, and i liked it.... and I now own it.

Not as heavy as I expected although I can tell it wouldn't be the best for a long days riding off road in terms of weight, but I think a tyre upgrade may fix that. It is super comfy.

Thanks for all the advice

Ooh good one gerbil you can now spend many happy hours customising your new bike! I swapped my tyres on the Dawes for Schwalbe marathon after a puncture, the bike is fine on gravel paths.

You can also fit loads of stuff in a front and rear basket!

Oh cool Melfish, Im looking forward to cycling it...spent a bit on getting a couple of good locks this week and a helmet......
funny you say that about tyres, i was thinking about upgrading the tyres but had no idea what to go for. Will have a look at the Schwalbe marathon tyres. Did you fit them yourself?
As for the front and rear....I have had a wicker basket for ages without a use for it, and now I have patched it up where some further weaving was needed and made some straps for it to attach to the front of the bike out of an old nylon belt i had lying about... and it looks great!...just thinking about what to use for the rear now... Thanks!

I did-it was awful as I am not experienced in bike DIY and my first go resulted in another puncture. It was getting the chain off the rear wheel and taking off the rear rack and chain guard that was a total PiTA. My rear wheel is so not quick release! I managed it in the end, thanks to youtube, so you should be fine. You can always ask the bike shop to do the tricky stuff.
I have a Basil rear basket, I think the style is called California. It clamps on to the rear rack. Their website seems to have loads of different variations of rear baskets and panniers- you've just got to suss out what sort of needs you have. Don't forget your lights!

Thanks for all your advise, will definitely check the website out.
I have reflectors on my bike for now, and I really doubt ill ever cycle in the dark but will get some when autumn arrives juts incase. Right now its late until 10pm which is just great!

sorry meant to say thanks for the advice no advise hahah!
which website were you referring to by the way?